Chapter 2

Tessa's POV

Grayson doesn't wait for an answer. He hangs up and heads straight for Delilah's room.

She's propped up in the big bed against the pillows, pale as ever.

The second she sees him, her eyes go glassy and she reaches out both arms. "Grayson, you're finally done. I'm so scared. My legs still won't stop tingling. What if I never walk again?"

The hard edge in his face melts away. He crosses the room in a few strides and pulls her into his arms, gentle like she might shatter.

"Don't be scared, Delilah. The doctor says the poison's under control. A little rehab and you'll be back on your feet in no time." He strokes her hair, his eyes soft with worry.

"But—" Delilah buries her face in his chest, tears spilling down. "Why would Tessa do this to me? I didn't do anything. I just wanted to stay close to you. Did I make her angry somehow? Don't blame her, Grayson. She's still your wife. If I'm the reason things fall apart between you two, I'd rather die."

I float near the ceiling, watching this whole disgusting scene, and I can't help but laugh under my breath.

It's a waste that Delilah never went into acting. She could've won an Oscar for this.

She poisoned herself. The whole thing was staged, just enough to fake severe nerve damage without actually killing her. All she wanted was an excuse to get rid of me so she could take my place as lady of this family.

And Grayson didn't even bother looking into it before he had me tortured to death.

"Don't you dare bring up that scheming bitch." Grayson's eyes go cold. "What kind of wife is she? If the old Don hadn't forced that marriage on me, if I didn't need to hide how I feel about you and keep you safe from the vultures in this family, you think I'd have married someone that boring, that fake? You're the only one I've ever wanted, Delilah. Nobody else is fit to run this house."

"Grayson..." She looks up at him, moved, and their eyes lock. Then he leans down and kisses the woman the whole family thinks of as his sister.

So that's how it is.

Five years of everything I gave him. Every bullet I took for him. Every night I sat up waiting. In his eyes, it was never anything more than a cover story.

I thought I'd warmed a stone back to life. Turns out that stone already belonged to somebody else.

I watch them tangled together on what used to be my marriage bed, my face blank.

If I were still alive, this would've destroyed me. Now I just feel empty. Flat.

After that day, Grayson stopped hiding it. He and Delilah started showing up together everywhere, out in the open. He used to keep his distance from her in public. Now that I'm dead, he doesn't bother pretending anymore.

Today, the two of them are sitting on the couch in the main hall of the estate. Grayson's massaging her legs, completely focused on it.

Then the door slams open.

Harlan, the most respected elder in the family, storms in with a few of his men, furious.

He doesn't waste any time. "Grayson! Where's Tessa? She's been handling the port accounts for the last month, and now there's a mess in the books."

Grayson doesn't even look up. "She's not feeling well. She's resting."

"Not feeling well, my ass. I heard you locked her in the cistern." Harlan slams his cane against the floor. "Grayson, you're torturing the Donna over that girl? It's been three days. Have you lost your mind?"

Grayson stands, stepping in front of Delilah like he's shielding her. "Uncle Harlan, this is family business. Tessa needs to be punished."

"Family business?" Harlan snaps. "That woman's run this house for years. She's kept the peace between every crew in this family. Everyone's seen what she's done, even if nobody gave her credit for it. There's no way she did what you're saying. And if you actually think she did, this goes to the Tribunal, not straight into a cistern. Are you trying to kill her? Don't forget, she's still got crews backing her."

Something in Grayson's eyes goes flat and cold.

He hates it when people try to use power against him.

He lets out a short laugh, all contempt. "Tessa tried to kill a member of this family. Locking her up for a few days is already more mercy than she deserves. And the port accounts? This family doesn't fall apart because one woman's not around to run numbers. She got used to riding on being my wife, acting like this family can't run without her. It can."

Can't run without her? Right. I really was a fool. Five years of cleaning up his messes, taking bullets meant for him, working myself sick trying to win over elders on his behalf.

And to him, all of that was just me throwing my weight around.

Harlan finally sighs, his voice settling. "Whatever you say. The family council meets in a few days. The Donna needs to be there. That's not optional."

"Understood. She'll be there."

Once Harlan and his men leave, Grayson gives Delilah's shoulder a reassuring pat, then heads out with a few of his men toward the cistern.